A global Chinese agribusiness has signed a $1 million research agreement with Flinders University to expand a microalgae and related advanced marine bioproduct development centre.
The research collaboration between Shandong Tianjiu Industrial Group and the South Australian university will focus on identifying new products and developing energy-efficient advanced manufacturing technologies over the space of three years.
Their aim is to increase applications, yields and purity of high-value marine bioproducts for functional foods in the premium export market.
The agribusiness manages more than 7000 hectares of intensive commercial farming and achieves annual global sales of more than A$220 million.
Its biotech subsidiary produces more than 500 tonnes of plant product extracts a year, including yam flour, malt extract and a popular certified non-dairy creamer.
Tianjiu manufactures plant-derived functional peptides from food crops such as soybean, corn and peas.
In 2014, Flinders University partnered with Chinese company Gather Great Ocean Group (GGOG) to establish the Advanced Macroalgae Biotechnology Joint Laboratory at Flinders University in Adelaide and in Qingdao, China.
The latest joint investment has the potential to expand in the future, according to Flinders University.
